[7] This does include the 38,000 Oregon State University students attending classes in Corvallis, over 5,250 of which live in one of 16 residence halls on the main campus.

[18] Avery was quickly joined by other settlers along the banks of the Willamette River, including a 640-acre (260 ha) claim directly to his north taken in September 1846 by William F.

[19] The early town quickly became a profitable re-supply center/mercantile as one of the leading stop-overs for miners traveling the Willamette River to the California Gold Rush mines.

[21] Avery's holding lay to the south and Dixon's to the north, with the Benton County Courthouse marking the approximate line of demarcation between these two land parcels.

[21] In December 1853 the 5th Oregon Territorial Legislature met in Salem, where a petition was presented seeking to change the name of that city to either "Thurston" or "Valena".

After the 6th Territorial Legislature convened there, the capital was returned to Salem, which would eventually be selected as the permanent seat of state government.

[26] Corvallis is bordered on the northwest by the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range, with Bald Hill providing a view of the town.

[27] Like the rest of the Willamette Valley, Corvallis lies in the Marine West Coast climate zone, with Mediterranean characteristics.

Winter snow is rare, but occasionally does fall, and amounts can range between a dusting and a few inches that do not persist on the ground for more than a day.

During the midwinter months after extended periods of rain, thick, persistent fogs can form, sometimes lasting the entire day.

Because of its close proximity to the coastal range, Corvallis can experience slightly cooler temperatures, particularly in the hills, than the rest of the Willamette Valley.

[36] The campus of Oregon State University, which is the major local employer, is located near the edge of the main downtown area.

Other major employers include Samaritan Health Services,[37] SIGA Technologies,[38] Evanite Fiber,[39] ONAMI,[40] and HP Inc., which has a large printing research and development operation in the northeast area of town.

Because of this relative concentration of employment and the need for diversity, the city launched a website to attract creative industry to the region by branding it with the slogan "Yes Corvallis".

The science, technology, and art based festival includes live music, a kinetic sculpture race during the summer event, and lecture series in the spring.

The radiant display of festive lights and mechanized decorations transforms the area into a holiday wonderland enjoyed by thousands.

[84] Named Oregon's best festival of its size in 2014, for over 30 years the River Rhythms concert series draws in acts with a wide variety of musical styles at Albany's Monteith Riverfront Park.

[18] During the first decade of the 21st century, local boosters claimed that Corvallis had the highest education rate per capita of any city in the state of Oregon.

Students serve as editors, reporters, and photographers to cover news through the newspaper, website, social media, and online videos.

Corvallis also is within the Salem and Portland area TV market worth stations such as Portland-Salem's CW, KATU, KOIN and KGW are also available on select cable providers.

Many well known celebrities have flown in and out of the Corvallis Municipal Airport over the years including John F. Kennedy in 1960, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.

The Groome Transportation Company provides multiple shuttles daily between Corvallis and the Portland Airport (PDX) with stops in Albany, Salem and Woodburn.

The Corvallis City Council approved an additional fee on monthly water utility bills in January 2011, allowing all CTS bus service to become fareless.

Additional commuter routes run in the early morning and late afternoon on weekdays, and midmorning and midafternoon on Saturdays.

The "Coast to Valley Express" runs multiple trips daily between the Albany Amtrak station (ALY) and the Newport Transit Center with stops in Philomath, Blodgett, Eddyville and Toledo.

From 2010 to 2011, CTS has seen a 37.9% increase in ridership, partially as a result of going fareless and "the rising cost of fuel for individual vehicles and the desire for residents to choose more sustainable options for commuting to work, school and other activities"[107] According to Tim Bates, the Corvallis Transit System and Philomath Connection had 3,621,387 passenger miles traveled and 85,647 gallons of fuel consumed in fiscal year 2011, a period that covers July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011.

[citation needed] In 2019, the local bus system expanded to several more lines throughout the city, and the addition of a minimal Sunday service.

[115] As part of its ongoing water-conservation program, the water department jointly publishes a guide to water-efficient garden plants.

[116] According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency report on its "green power communities", Corvallis is among the top cities in the nation in terms of buying electricity produced from renewable resources.

A sixth fire station was shuttered several years ago due to budgeting shortfalls and remains closed to date.